The Practice of Compassion

Cleanliness of the body and mind develops disinterest in the contact with other for self-gratification. Yoga Sutra 2:40

Working with the niyama sauca, I'm reminded of my path to cleaning the body and the mind. Through this process, I've been working on all the aspects of my life. Cleaning my home, my thoughts, my actions and my body. I'm more aware of what I eat and why I eat it. I've been struggling however, with the aspect of becoming a vegetarian. Remember that midwestern girl that started this trek a few months back? She wasn't a big veggie eater. Still not as it turns out.

Like I said I'm much more conscious about what I am eating, given up fast foods for the most part, check all labels when grocery shopping. I buy only whole foods, organic and check sugar, salt and chemical content of everything I buy.

I've got numerous new recipes for vegetarian dishes, but still haven't made them. I somehow always forget the ingredients on my list on shopping days.

Thinking about this makes me anxious and worry that I'm not fulfilling my mission in this project if I don't successfully become a vegetarian before this course is complete.

I was reminded by my mentor that perhaps it's not everyone's mission to become a vegetarian. She recommended that I practice ahimsa by not beating myself up over this and with that I may find some contentment.

In the book Meditations from the Mat they say: "Sauca is not about what we eat but about the cleanliness of our choices. Sauca's contribution is the practice of compassion. It it the observance of loving-kindness in thought."

Once I was released from my burden of worry about when and if I'll become a vegetarian, I relaxed and decided to allow the universe to decide when it will happen. It may not be before this course is finished, but it may still happen.

As a result, I printed out the list of goodies to get for vegetarian living and took it to the store when we shopped over the weekend. Turns out the store we went to didn't carry any of the items I was interested in. Baby steps!

Effortless Attention

He should lift up the self by the Self. -- Bhagavad Gita

Last week seemed like a whirlwind of activity for me. Work became very busy. It felt as though I wasn't spending enough time on the mat and focusing on my yoga experiences.

To back things up a bit, I found out a few weeks ago that a studio I work at is closing at the end of the month and I started asking clients if they wanted to continue to work with me and if they had interest in doing so at my home studio that my husband and I have been working on. Last week many of those people finished their commitment with that studio and started inquiring about working with me privately and setting up appointments. Some of those people started referring their friends and telling me their stories. I gladly took the reservations, set appointments and listened to stories.

In the book: Meditations from the Mat, Gates and Kenison describe Dyana as being "our lives are imbued by divine energy" We move from dharana and dyana in a flowing way.  They say:

Whatever work or relationships may come our way, they are transformed by the grace that flows through us. Our own experience of being in the world is one of ever increasing peace, clarity, understanding, and ability. We are no longer acting solely on our own behalf, rather, we have become channels for grace.

I'm not sure I feel worthy of such deep thought, and I know I'm trying to start a small business. When I found out the studio was closing rather unexpectedly, I felt bad for the people I've been working with that were coming to classes that were more affordable than privates and have restrictions that keep them from traveling longer distances to try other studios. I'm honored that they will allow me to continue to work with them. And I do hope I'm able to help improve their lives in some small way.

Last week started with me just wondering when I'd get on the mat, what I'd be doing for this posting and how I would live more a yogic life. Perhaps by just letting go, being available for others and being at peace with all of it was yoga for the week.

Remembering my Intention

Also through cleanliness and purity of body and mind (shaucha) comes a purification of the subtle mental essence (sattva), a pleasantness, goodness and gladness of feeling, a one-pointedness with intentness, the conquest or mastery over the senses, and a fitness, qualification, or capability for self-realization. -- Yoga Sutra 2:41

After a month of excess and poor health, its time to renew my intention toward the yogic lifestyle. As the sutras say, to purify the mind, one must start with the body. So this week we went through the cupboards and cleaned out the remaining unhealthy food left uneaten and replaced it with healthy natural foods. We started eating more greens and fibers to help wash away all the sweets and fatty foods we ate over the holidays.

It's always amazing how quickly the changes happen and how equally quickly the body feels better. When the body feels better, healthier and has more energy, the mind feels free and clear.

Eating better makes me want to be more active. It pulls me away from a stationary life in front of a TV. An easy life to live, just not very fulfilling.

Moving around more, eating better and having a clear mind, reminds my that my true intention in life is to work to help other feel better. It re-energizes me to serve that purpose in  a more committed way.

It's not a resolution, it's renewal of intention. Sometimes we need a little reminder of what we wanted to to and be when we grow up. Luckily, that's why there are holidays and a new year to get us back on track.

Reflection and Renewal

The past is dead
The future is imaginary
Happiness can only be in the Eternal Now Moment.  -Ken Keyes, Jr.

This week was spent spending some time reflecting on the year past and setting goals for the coming year. Looking back at the year, I can easily say I would not change anything that happened. I met some great people that I will cherish the rest of my life. I started on my life as a yogi in earnest. I also had some great opportunities that will lead to more coming in the new year.

As yogis we strive to live in the moment and savor every breath. It's at this time of year when that can be quite challenging. You want to think about how the previous year went. You want to make plans for the coming year. You want to be optimistic that the new year will be better than the last.

The best part of being a yogi is that knowing you let your thoughts stray to plans for the future or memories of the past, we an always pull ourselves back to our breath and come back to this moment now.

Enjoy each moment. Happiness is now! Enjoy each breath. Each new breath is the start of a new year regardless what the calendar reads.